Every January 9, the streets of Old Manila get flooded by ecstatic crowds trying to touch - or at least catch a glance at - the revered religious statue of the Black Nazarene. It is a spectacle worth experiencing, but it can be pretty stressful if you are not used to these kinds of events.

Christmas is here! And we cannot stress enough how Filipinos take this holiday very seriously. To make the most out of this festive time of the year in the Megacity, here's our guide on what to expect and what not to miss, featuring crazy Christmas shopping, sparkling decorations, exciting traditions, delicious food, and the art of surviving traffic & traveling during the season.

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It’s time to go back to school kids! Take a look at what you should expect in Megacity Manila during this time of year.

The new school year always starts some time in June for public elementary schools and high schools in the Philippines. This 2016, classes in public schools start on June 13, Monday. Private schools, including Manila's international schools, are free to start their classes any time in June or August.

Life is changing constantly in a Megacity. Nevertheless, there are things that stay the same: holidays, traditional celebrations, and festivals are something to look forward to and they provide a certain structure throughout the year. Have a look at this section to see the yearly cycle of landmark events which take place in the Megacity of Manila. This is a naturally growing section, with every new landmark event finding its place here.

On 14 November 2012, the European Union held the “European Higher Education Fair 2012: Brighter Prospects” (EHEF) in The Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati. This event was an invitation to Filipinos aspiring to acquire a masters or doctorate degree in EU countries to achieve higher learning in an academic environment that has state-of-the-art research and cutting-edge facilities.

Please refer to this section for the latest updates of the official Philippine national holidays. If holidays fall on weekend's, the president often declares the succeeding Monday as a day off, factually 'moving' the holiday and creating a long weekend. Watch out for announcements of the President's palace.